Suppressors Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Zevdogs

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Feb 5, 2010
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Utah
http://m.ksl.com/story.php?nid=148&sid=10829513


MURRAY -- A trio of disturbing self-inflicted gunshots at a Utah gun range is bringing attention to a federal gun law. All three people rented a gun at the range then turned it on themselves.
It's an interesting law: Buy a gun from a store and you'll need to pass a background check; try one out, all you need to do is show ID. But that may not have prevented these shootings.

The staff at Get Some Guns and Ammo is struggling with the self-inflicted shooting of one their customers Monday night. It's the third time it's happened in six months.

"They seemed like normal people, very down to earth, very poised," says range owner Stuart Wallin.

In each case, the people showed ID, filled out a waiver to enter the range, then shot themselves with the very gun they checked out.

"I don't wish this on any of my competitors," Wallin says.

It's horrifying, but it's not the first time. It's happened at gun stores around the country. Two weeks ago, a Florida mother killed her adult son, then herself at a gun range.

So what does the law say? According to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, background checks are only required when one is purchasing a gun. Stores don't do them, nor are they required to, when someone is renting one at a range.

Get Some Guns and Ammo has people fill out a waiver, asking if the renter is legally allowed to have a gun, is on drugs or alcohol or is suicidal. Owners decided to do this story, saying they know they'll face criticism from some but wanting to tackle the subject of suicide head on.

"We feel for their families and their friends. Suicide solves nothing," Wallin says.

The shooting range has also adopted a new policy. Anyone who comes in alone -- like all three victims did -- is required to provide the phone number of a friend, parent or spouse.

"We're going to call them and say, 'Is "John" in a good state to be shooting guns?'" Wallin says.

Wallin said had the victims bought the guns, thus prompting background checks -- two of the three would have passed.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Hate to say it, but I hear of stories like this every year. I think last year, a mother and son went to the range and the mother killed her son and then offed herself right there on the firing line. Tragic to say the least.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Yea it is a piss poor deal, but it is better than what a good friend of mine got. His room mate a mutual friend, stole one of his handguns, took off, shot himself, with my reloads. Always a great day when the ME tells you that "your reloads did the trick".
There is no deterrent for a person that has battled their demons and lost. They can be covert and resolved in their mission of self destruction.
Although you never read about the rental car in the garage or with the garden hose taped to the window out in the middle of nowhere.................
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

SURE IS A F**KED UP WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN NOW
mad.gif
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Nothing too unusual.....
I mean if you are suicidal, there's only so many options that come to mind...a lot of people jump in front of trains, or shoot themselves..I suspect this article is attempting to prompt some sort of official response like 'shooting ranges are a personal safety liability etc etc' yet nobody is talking about putting a fence or railing in front of train tracks!

I know at least one shooting range down here closed up due to the amount of suicide incidents they were having..its kinda bizarre and upsetting but like I always say, 'it is what it is..'
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

One of my local gun stores closed their indoor range after a suicide. Shit happens. Not sure why anyone reading the article would get mad at the gun stores. People who want to commit suicide will find a way, whether it's a rented gun, a rope, or a tall building.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Had that happen a couple of times in a year at a local range as well.

The policy now is if you come by yourself, you need to show them you have your own firearm if you want to rent others or shoot, or come with a friend...
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

if yer gonna off yerself buy yer own gun and quit making life crappy for the rest of us.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300WSM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">if yer gonna off yerself buy yer own gun and quit making life crappy for the rest of us. </div></div>

I agree.. Why make some one clean up your mess
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

I don't know what these people are thinking...It's just sick. Why on earth would you make your execution public, sick friend, bad son or lonely self???? Why?? Can you imagine the problems these people cause others, others that just so happened to be out enjoying themselves at the range that day. I would imagine most of these people are ones that would not normally have or consider having a gun around. The anti-gun people that cause others problems, then take themselves out with one of those BAD guns.
I had to clean-up several suicide while in the service, all were armors of other companies that killed themselves, and one was a accidental shooting at ours. I always dreaded Christmas time in the service, it was always the most active time for this type of action.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Yeah, well, when people are determined to kill themselves they will find a way. You just can't stop them forever. Eventually, they get it done. Last month in a community north of mine, a woman purchased a revolver from a local gun shop, went to another and bought ammo, walked a short distance away into an alley and shot herself in the head. She had waited for the federal waiting period before picking up the handgun. It was unusual for a number of reasons, but it was in fact a suicide.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zevdogs</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300WSM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">if yer gonna off yerself buy yer own gun and quit making life crappy for the rest of us. </div></div>

I agree.. Why make some one clean up your mess </div></div>

+1 We don't outlaw bridges, trains, tall buildings, ropes and carbon-monoxide. If you're gonna quit at life...do it using one of those things.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: titandriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body">s4b1106 --- there's a Federal waiting period for purchasing a handgun in Idaho? When did that start? </div></div>

There is no federal waiting period in Idaho or elsewhere.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

we actually had a gal here lay down with her neck on the train tracks. that took guts. another guy sat on the tracks just last week. sad stuff. plus how do you NOT jump out of the way of a train
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Sorry, guys, I didn't explain that well. I knew what I meant to say, just didn't get to the keyboard correctly. Rather than pay for the instant background check, she opted to go the other route and wait the week or whatever it is for approval. My point being, even a waiting period can be pointless. In Idaho, a concealed carry permit will work for the instant background check. I have one, so I never mess with the rest of it.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Suicide by cop is also becoming more and more an issue these days. I really don't know if it is a modern phenomenon or that we have just started to address it for what it is, but either way, it sucks when people are committed to killing themselves but don't have the stones to do it themselves, so they force a cop into doing it for them. I agree with Downzero, it is just stupid. If you force someone else to do it, it is also chickenshit. You create enough trauma and misery around you by doing it to start with, why hang that on some poor bugger that just got dispatch to deal with the disturbance.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: s4b1106</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Suicide by cop is also becoming more and more an issue these days. I really don't know if it is a modern phenomenon or that we have just started to address it for what it is, but either way, it sucks when people are committed to killing themselves but don't have the stones to do it themselves, so they force a cop into doing it for them. I agree with Downzero, it is just stupid. If you force someone else to do it, it is also chickenshit. You create enough trauma and misery around you by doing it to start with, why hang that on some poor bugger that just got dispatch to deal with the disturbance.
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It is too bad that people don't have the balls to end their life in their own house. These "suicide by cop" knuckleheads really don't think about anybody but themselves. A cop that is involved in a shooting has to cope with multiple problems post shoot. First, they have to deal with the fact that they just ended somebody's life. (For some people this is easy) Second, they have to deal with an Internal Affairs investigation. Third, depending on the city, they have to undergo a Police Commission hearing. Fourth, they have to deal with any "citizen/police watch-dog group. Fifth, they have to deal with legal prosecution. Sixth, they have to deal with possible/likely civil suit.

This only makes me feel sorry for the police officer and their family....not the suicide-e.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300WSM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">if yer gonna off yerself buy yer own gun and quit making life crappy for the rest of us. </div></div>

Exactly. There is so much bad press already about guns/ranges, we really don't need this kind of shit. If your mental "wiring" is that screwed up or your life so miserable that you feel the need to end it, dont fuck up some poor store/ range owner's life/livelyhood. Thats just plain inconsiderate. Not to mention the effect it would have on the other patrons that happen to have the misfortune of being in the range at that time, or those who are patiently waiting their turn to shoot. Why not get a membership at your local YMCA and drown yourself in the pool? Imagine the guilt that poor 18year old lifeguard would carry with them for the rest of their lives? Imagine all the little kids and seniors you could scar emotionally with your selfish act?
This story is tragic indeed. But not for the so-called "victims".
They made their choice. I feel bad for their families first, the range operators and the other witnesses second, and finally the shooting community that has to deal with the "fallout".
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

Another thought: Before reading this thread, I had no idea this was such a common ocourrence. Maybe the ranges should make it a policy that if you show up alone and want to rent a gun, you need to leave a $10,000 deposit which you get back when you (personally) return the firearm to the rental counter.
I'm sure this would deter most suicidal customers, and if someone does off themselves, the store /range is compensated for their "inconvenience".
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

We got on average one attempted suicide per shift in the ER I worked in - and that's just from OD's and we weren't a level 1 trauma center. I have no idea what the numbers are at the local level 1 ER's. (I have since transferred to a cardiac unit)
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

This may be wrong for me to say or type..If people really want to end their life.Why not make it interresting.With all the movies out today there are so many good ideas....dumb ass people have to ruin everything for the rest of us.That`s the way of life since the beginning I realize.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

I think it's part of the Democrat's hope and change.

The economy is in bad shape and people are in situations of financial hardship and that is contributing.

A local range here in WI had two rental suicides in the last few months as well.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

I don't understand suicide at all, period.

If life is so bad that it can't get any worse, why not wait it out and see what comes next.

Because you just don't know what comes next if you off yourself.

That's another thread for another forum (Psych101 I guess).
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

My brother in-law's friend did this here in San Diego a year or so ago. He had some money problems and took the pussy way out. If you can do that in the greatest country in the world when people in other countries will die from starvation, malaria, and dysentery I say good riddance.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

We had 3 suicides in town here this year, (2) 15 yo girls jumped in front of a train, (1) 18 yo boy hung himself.
Investigations uncovered all the incidents were planned months in advance. Others also knew of the plans, but did not take them serious.
Seems that many suicidal individuals are determined to follow through on the act. It is not an emotional burst, just the opposite. It does not show in their face or in their actions. They have resolve and have thought it through. One thing is for sure, they are not concerned with the aftermath, its all about them...
That being said and as sad as it is, there is nothing you can do to prevent this from happening if they plan the activity. You can take all the phone numbers you want, ask them to sign all the cover your ass paper under the sun. If they want to do it they will and you cannot stop them.
The best business owners can do is cover themselves against the liability of these types using them to do their deed.
 
Re: Tragic article.. rent a gun to kill your self

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArcticLight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't understand suicide at all, period.

If life is so bad that it can't get any worse, why not wait it out and see what comes next.

Because you just don't know what comes next if you off yourself.

That's another thread for another forum (Psych101 I guess).

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Meh, it's something that you aren't going to understand unless you have been there I suppose. I don't condone suicide by any means, but severe depression is said to be a kind of anguish that takes ones will to live.